Conference Overview

The College of Saint Benedict and Saint John's University present "Liberal Arts Illuminated: Pathways, Possibilities, Partnerships" on July 11-13, 2016.

The conference will bring together leadership, faculty, and trustees from liberal arts colleges, as well as public policymakers, for a substantive generative conversation about our future as liberal arts institutions. It will feature opening and closing plenary sessions, a luncheon keynote address and six panel and/or workshop discussions. Each session will be an informative and engaging experience to answer four questions:

Where is our sector going and how is it transformative?

Why should people invest in liberal arts education?

How do we ensure financial, social and cultural access for all?

What should we do to make sure the liberal arts thrive over the next 50 years?

By design, the conference will provide participants with materials, ideas, partnerships and commitments by the time they return to their campuses. In addition, the conference is intended to facilitate informal interactions with other leaders, trustees and faculty members.

Summer is a wonderful time of year in Minnesota, and we encourage participants to combine summer leisure travel with their work at the conference. Visit Explore Minnesota and select "Where to Go" to begin your planning.

Liberal Arts Illuminated is being hosted by the College of Saint Benedict and Saint John's University with support from the Association of American Colleges and Universities, the Association of Governing Boards of Universities and Colleges, the Council of Independent Colleges, Academic Impressions, the Corella and Bertram F. Bonner Foundation and the Minnesota Private College Council, with special funding from U.S. Bank, The Lawlor Group, Baker Tilly, William F. Knese and Suzan-Oda Crokin Knese and Lee and Vicki Morgan.